I consider myself the definition of a weekend warrior and my two mains are a Stingray Special 4H and a Stingray Special 5H. Agree to disagree I guess.
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Fall 2021 Ernie Ball BFR Stingray Special 5HH
- Thread starter LadyLoveStingRay5
- Start date
I consider myself the definition of a weekend warrior and my two mains are a Stingray Special 4H and a Stingray Special 5H. Agree to disagree I guess.
For me that’s not a huge concern and Im pretty sure that’s not gonna happen. Besides even if it did they’d just be copying Fender’s business model who last I checked was still pretty popular and profitable.
At the end of the day as long as Musicman continues to make amazing instruments and not become a lifestyle brand (Fender & Gibson air fresheners, turntables or car floor-mats anyone?
) then I’ll continue to support whatever business decisions they need to make to keep their brand alive and instruments played. 
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For me that’s not a huge concern and Im pretty sure that’s not gonna happen. Besides even if it did they’d just be Fender who last I checked was still pretty popular and profitable.
At the end of the day as long as Musicman continues to make amazing instruments and not become a lifestyle brand (Fender & Gibson air fresheners, turntables or car floor mats anyone?) then I’ll continue to support whatever business decisions they need to make to keep their brand alive and instruments played.
word.
EB/Music Man has become a lifestyle brand. Just look at how many Stingrays are out there along with the slap and pop junk. That Davies504 Youtube star is a perfect example.
Dammit talkbass. I love the look of this and have been contemplating selling my Special 5H to try an HH.
So....Ordered.
There were only 3 left when I placed the order. So, at least a few people think like me and think they look super sweet.
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.I also own one of the fretless BFRs. Best bass I have ever owned. I'm sure this one will compete.
So....Ordered.
There were only 3 left when I placed the order. So, at least a few people think like me and think they look super sweet.
.
.I also own one of the fretless BFRs. Best bass I have ever owned. I'm sure this one will compete.
Looking for pics and a full review!!
Congratulations . Glad you didn’t hesitate . And glad you were made aware of their availability .
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
The Cliff Williams pricetag has every cent of that money going towards Alzheimers research, because of Malcolm Young.
Reminds me of Carvin transitioning to Kiesel. No more can you get an affordable, normal custom bass, at least not like when they had the B5. I have two used B5s, of which ran me not even 600 bucks a piece. I no longer have interest to buy new from them.
Me too - these look great. So you’ll end up with two pg less Stingrays!!
Ah you mean these - became available July - BFRs are roughly every quarter (but don’t always include basses).
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Yes Those, For real? i didnt see them anywhere until the last few weeks, when i saw a commercial "introducing them" before then when id search up "BFR Bongo" the latest one to that point was the mahogany one. I was considering selling one of my spectors and a Stingray 5 i had to fund either a mahogany BFR or the white one, "crescendo" i think theyre called? but then i thought about it and was like they might be absurdly beautiful, but its still a bongo being sold for about 4 to 5 hundred dollars more (granted the Mahogany is made of a totally different wood and the Crescendo has a roasted maple neck). So I did sell my stingray, but used that to fund another spector purchase, and sold my spector euro and got a used bongo from the classifieds here, BIGEJ2 was the seller. great experience with that sale, and the Aqua Sparkle Bongo i got is just as stunning as one of the BFRs
BTW, is that yours? If it is, congrats thats a magnificent bass.
Yes it is my bass - and thanks, it’s great - much more blingy than my other Bongo (which has a piezo). However Aqua sparkle is a great colour and no doubt suits the Bongo - I think @BIGEJ2 has bought one of these white Bongos also.
To me, they have so diluted their brand identity with so many BFR and other 'special editions' (usually for any manufacturer of anything a way to charge more for the SoS ) that any more, I don't know WHAT a regular MM bass is.
They spent a fortune updating these basses in a thoughtful and considered way, but you'd never know it. Ray Charles could see how far and quickly their prices are rising, and for many, the offshore ones are not the answer for guys who want to buy into an American-built bass. It's hard to imagine a single-pickup OG Stingray Five seems to now be such a rarity, but if I want some one-knob thing or some high-ticket strangeness, I'm in business.
It's a nod to doing business in California in the midst of COVID and God Knows What Else that an offshore MM is the way to go for a bass that formerly most could afford.
They spent a fortune updating these basses in a thoughtful and considered way, but you'd never know it. Ray Charles could see how far and quickly their prices are rising, and for many, the offshore ones are not the answer for guys who want to buy into an American-built bass. It's hard to imagine a single-pickup OG Stingray Five seems to now be such a rarity, but if I want some one-knob thing or some high-ticket strangeness, I'm in business.
It's a nod to doing business in California in the midst of COVID and God Knows What Else that an offshore MM is the way to go for a bass that formerly most could afford.
Yes, I also have one of the BFR's. It so closely reminds me of the PDN White Gilded Stingray Classics from years back that I have been on the hunt for. Ended up pre-ordering it from Sweetwater and then I sold my Aqua Sparkle 5 to @Jason Bonilla to offset some of the cost.
This new BFR is magnificent and much different than anything EBMM has put out in recent years. They had pickguardless anniversary models some time ago that were also gorgeous but the clear finish, wooden knobs and neck take this to a whole new level. In all honesty, if I hadn't gotten the Bongo I would probably order one of these. I'm tempted to call my rep at Sweetwater to see what my options are...
He does the same thing I've heard people in this forum do... *gasp* play multiple basses! But his SR is definitely a SBMM, this is from last month:
